A small, black seed similar in size to a sesame seed, nigella seeds are a Food Find essential in my spice cupboard. Herbaceous and flavourful, with notes of green herbs and toasted onions, nigella adds savoury and unmissable flair to so many dishes.
From Moroccan preserved lemons, Indian dry curries and spice mixes, to baked goods throughout the Middle East and beyond, the use of nigella in cuisines around the world dates back thousands of years. Ancient nigella seeds were apparently even found in Tutankhamun's tomb, which is surely a seal of royal culinary approval!
Jump to:
A quick and easy way to add flavour
Because nigella seeds can be primarily used untoasted, meaning you can quickly add them to a dish with no preparation and are so robust in flavour, they make a welcome and essential element in numerous dishes. I find myself sprinkling these delicious seeds on top of toasted naan, hummus plates, labneh or feta cheese doused in olive oil, in curries, roasted vegetables, potato salads, and especially as the Food Find ingredient in my Green No-Sausage Rolls recipe.
Once you start using nigella seeds in your cooking you will find you miss their unique and savoury flavour whenever they aren’t there; far from being an optional garnish, nigella seeds have the distinct capacity to bring together all the flavours of a dish together into a savory, moreish bite that keeps you coming back for more.
Where to find nigella seeds
Nigella is often confused with or mislabelled as other spices, sometimes referred to as black cumin, onion seed, or black caraway seed, which are distinct spices in and of themselves. I usually purchase nigella at an Indian or South Indian grocer, where it is also labelled kalonji, the hindi word for nigella, which gives me an extra assurance that I am buying the right thing!
I exclusively buy nigella seeds at Indian or South Indian grocers, as I find that is where they are most reliably labelled, but I have certainly seen them correctly labelled at a number of Middle Eastern and Turkish markets. Specialty spice vendors would also be another reliable source.
Ways to use nigella seeds
Nigella seeds can be used to garnish any dish where an herbal, allium-inflected flavour would be welcome - any dish that contains or would be garnished with chives, garlic, onions, or green onions will benefit from their toasted, oniony flavour.
Dishes that feature fresh green herbs or dark leafy greens, such as oregano, cilantro, spinach, or swiss chard will also be enhanced by the herbaceous notes of these crunchy seeds.
Grain salads, vegetable salads, braises containing leafy greens, vegetarian stews, flatbreads, and savoury baked goods are especially welcoming to these flavour enhancing seeds. Recipes and dishes from or inspired by Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Egyptian, Turkish, and Indian cuisines in particular are a great match for using nigella seeds.
Simply sprinkling nigella seeds on toasted pita with flakes of sea salt and olive oil, or adding them alongside lemon juice and olive oil on top of a fresh salad of greens and tomatoes elevates these simple ingredients into something tasty and memorable.
Once you stock your spice cupboard with a little packet of these seeds and get to know them, you’ll find yourself using them more and more to your flavoursome, eating delight.
Leave a Reply